Spray tank



June 30, 1942.

w. R. BROWN SPRAY TANK Filed April 4, 19:58

Ewa/.M (y

Patented June 30, 1942 UNITED STATES iiriTENT OFFICE SPRAY TANK William R. Brown, Chicago, Ill., assignor to W. R. Brown Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of illinois -1 Claim.

My invention relates to the art of spraying ui'd such as paint, etc., and has to do more particularly with a tank which is especially adapted for use as a container for the liquid which is to be sprayed and having a head fitted for the passage of air and liquid.

In the past it has been considered necessary that containers of the type here under consideration be made of extremely heavy and expensive material in order to withstand the pressures which are likely to be built up in the use of such equipment. Furthermore, it has been considered desirable to use expensive and cumbersome safety valves in order to avoid the danger of explosion.

An object of my invention is to provide in an article of the type referred to a container which may be formed of relatively light weight and inexpensive material and which may be of a standard type in common use such as, for example, a milk can.

A further object is to provide in combination with a container of the type referred to a closure which will embody safety features of simple inexpensive design, eliminating the necessity for safety valves of the usual type.

Still another object is to provide a container cf the type referred to in combination with closure means which is so designed as to permit release of pressure when the latter has reached a predetermined value.

Still another object is to provide a device of the type referred to which will be simple in construction, inexpensive to fabricate, substantially foolproof in operation and in general entirely satisfactory for the purposes desired.

Various other objects and advantages will become apparent as the description proceeds.

Referring now to the drawing forming a part of this specification and illustrating a preferred embodiment of my invention;

Fig. l is a top plan sectional View of a device embodying my invention, taken as indicated by the line I--I in Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the same, the lower portion of the container being removed as unessential to a Clear understanding of the invention; and

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

In accordance with my invention I employ as a container for the paint or other fluid which is to be sprayed a can or tank I which is preferably formed of relatively light weight sheet metal such as is used in ordinary milk cans and in fact I may employ a standard milk can which, by reason of its production in large quantities as a standard article of commerce, may be obtained very inexpensively. A ring I2 is secured as by spot welding` or the like to the upper portion of the neck I3 and immediately below an outwardly rolled flange I4 which is normally provided on cans of this type. The lower inner edge of the ring I2 is beveled as shown clearly in Fig. 3 to provide a shoulder I"5.

The container is capped by means of a special closure member I3 comprising an outwardly convex lid portion I9 having a peripheral flange 20 and a central dome portion 22. Formed integrally with the portion I9 is a plurality of outwardly extending ears 23 preferably three in number, which are bored to permit the passage of rods 25, said rods being bent at the lower ends thereof to provide hook portions 25. At their upper ends the rods 25 are threaded as indicated at 28 and threadedly engaging them are female clamping members 29 in the form of wing nuts having oppositely extending gripping members 30. Disposed between the clamps 29 and the ears 23 are helical springs 32, suitable washers 33 being interposed between said springs and the clamps 29.

The weight and tension of the springs 32 are carefully determined in order that said springs may yield when a predetermined gas pressure has been reached within the container I0. When such a pressure has been built up the lid I8 will be forced upwardly against the resistance of the springs 32 and the pressure will thus be relieved.

The length of the rods 25 is also carefully adjusted so that when the clamps 29 are turned down to the maximum position shown in Fig. 3 the springs 32 will have the desired tension. This arrangement provides a safety feature so that the user of the apparatus cannot compress the springs 32 beyond the desired tension, which might result in the building up of sufficient pressure within the container to burst it.

The closure I8 may be formed with a recess 34 receiving a preferably resilient gasket 34 of any suitable material, arranged so as to be compressed by the ange I4 in the operative assembly of the device, whereby the device is rendered leakproof when the pressure in the same is not excessive.

The dome 22 is provided with a passage 35 for air, said passage going completely through the dome except for an aperture 36 communicating with the interior of the container. The passage 35 terminates in fittings 38 and 39 for the connection of air hose 4l), 40', either one of which may be connectedto a pump or pressure tank and the other being connected to a spray gun. A tube 43 is also secured to the dome 22, eX- tending down into the container to a point adjacent the bottom thereof for conducting liquid out of the container, this tube communicating with a tting 45 on the dome 22 which connects with a hose 46 for conducting liquid to the spray gun. A screw type needle valve 48 controls the amount of liquid which is permitted to flow out of the container.

A screw type valve 50 may also be provided for quickly relieving the pressure within the container as seen best in Fig. 2.

For convenient portability a threaded socket 52 may be provided at the center of the dome 22 which is engageable with the threaded end of a detachable bail or handle 55.

It will be seen that I have provided a container which may be produced at very slight expense but which will be entirely safe and practical in use. The container proper is of standard inexpensive construction and the safety features which I have provided are simple, foolproof and inexpensive.

Various changes and modifications coming within the spirit of my invention may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art, and hence I do not Wish to limit myself to the specic form shown or uses mentioned, except to the extent indicated in the appended claim, which is to be interpreted as broadly as the state of the art will permit.

I claim:

In a pressure tank, a container formed of re1- atively light weight material, said container having a reinforced rim, a closure member for said container having a portion overhanging said rim. a plurality of spaced hooked clamping members extending through said overhanging portion and mounted on said closure member and having adjustable abutments spaced above said overhanging portion and having hooks below said overhanging portion, the reinforcement of said rim having an under surface whose inner portion is higher than its outer portion, to receive said hooks, and resilient means engaged between said abutments and said closure member and urging said hooks into engagement with said higher portion and functioning to enable said closure member to move away from said container to relieve the pressure when a predetermined pressure has been attained Within said container.

WILLIAM R. BROWN. 

